Posted by [EMAIL PROTECTED] : From: Robert Dorman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 16:05:00 -0700 (MST) >X-Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Unverified) >X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Version 2.0.3 >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Sky) >Subject: Press Release > >PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE >Tucson, Az 12/6/99 > >Activists disrupt Mining Hall of Fame Awards ceremony in Tucson on Saturday >evening, 12/4/99. > >The American Mining Hall of Fame Awards were disrupted by the "Javalena" >activists in >response to Peabody Coal's mining activities in Northern Arizona on >traditional Dineh >(Navajo) and Hopi land. The banquet was held to induct Irl Engelhardt, CEO >of Peabody >Group into the Mining Hall of Fame. Attendees jeered and physically attacked the >demonstrators during the protest which lasted only a matter of minutes >before security >personal removed the banquet busters. Activist Carbon Ridder walked through >the event, >megaphone in hand, asking the world's mining elite and CEO's from at least >thirty >multinational corporations to consider the effects of their actions on the >lives of the native >people of this land. > >Ridder stated that the award to be given to Engelhardt came from the >"sacrifice of the >Traditional People and land at Black Mesa region in Northern Arizona". > >David Yerkey of the Javalina group was handing out information when he was >attacked by >several banquet delegates, knocked to the floor and punched several times >in the face and >body. He and Jack Strasburg were booked at Pima County Jail and released >on their own >recognizance. Police ignored Yerkey's request to make a statement regarding >the violence. > >The action brings attention to the ongoing cultural and religious violations >caused by >Peabody's mining operations. As the mines continue to expand, more people >will have to >be relocated. The group said that they felt it inappropriate that someone >with such a >tarnished human rights and environmental record be inducted into the Hall of >Fame. > >Approximately over 9,000 Dineh people have been forced from the traditional >sacred >lands they have occupied for centuries, to make way for the mines. People >living in the >area are subject to the effects of nearby blasting which shakes their houses >and cracks the >foundations. Health effects from coal dust and toxic chemicals continue to >effect their >daily lives and have also killed many of their sheep. > >Peabody is also responsible, they say, for the destruction of over 2,400 >archaeological and >burial sites and for using 61% of the water withdrawn annually from the deep >water tables. >The pumping of this water, residents claim, is responsible for drying up >springs that have >furnished water for hundreds of years. > >Human rights and environmental organizations internationally have protested the >continuation of the Black Mesa and Kayenta mining operations since 1972. > >For more information contact Mr. Yerke at 520 388 1404 >... many prayers ... > >William "Sky" Crosby, director E C C O >Environmental and Cultural Conservation Organization >tel 520 749 0585 >fax 520 749 0587 >email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a BIGMTLIST post. For more information on this on-going human rights crisis in the United States, visit my web page at http://www.theofficenet.com/~redorman/pagea~1.htm
